Improved washing-machine



anna @sans B. F. FELLMAN, OF SELLERSVILLF, PENNSYLVANIA.

Letters Patent No. 99,549, dated February 8, 1870.

IMPROVED WASHING-MACHINE.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

I, B. F. lnLLMArr, of Sellersville, county of Bucks, State of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improved Washing-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

Natu're and Object' of the Invention.

My invention'co'nsists in the combination ot' a certain 1ever,'a horizontal-sliding frame, and a vibrating rubbing-board, the whole being so arranged ont-he frame of a wasbing-machine, and in respectto the vessel containing the clothes, VVthat the latter, when introduced between the said vibrating jrubber and a .1-2, tig. 1L

General Description.

The frame of the machine consists of the uprights or legs A,`conuected together by rails B and B', and by a cross-piece, C.

Each ofthe upper rails, B, has, at its opposite'ends, handles a gz., for convenience in moving the machine from place to place.

A tub or vessel, F, consist-ing of vertical end-pieces b and 7)', and ofi-a curved bottom and sides, c, of thin meta-l or wood, is suspended within theframe of the machine in the manner clearly shown in the drawing, and in the bottom of this vessel is au opening closed by a plug7 7i, through which the soap-suds or water may be drawn o. (See iig. 3.)

A stationary rubbing-bed, H, is securcd to the head b' ofthe vessel, and has, upon its face, rounded diamond-shaped projections j, which constitute au efficient rubbing-surtace; and Within the vessel there is also a movable rubber, J, hung to a spindle, mi, .which is arranged to4 turn and slide longitudinally in the head b ofthe vessel, and in cross-pieces C ot' thejrame of the machine, this spindle forming part of a sliding frame, K, which consists, also, of a slotted bar, p, par-4 allel with the spindle, aud'connected to the same by a cross-bar, q. j

The .bar y rest-s upon one ot' therails; B', of the flame, and is guided partly by a bar, r, of the same,

.and partly by a pin, s,.secured to the said rail, and

projecting upward through the slot t of the bar.

A lever, L, the lower slotted end of which is hung to apin, c, ofone ofthe legs A, projects upward through the slotted bar p, and is pivoted to the same by means of a pin, w, the'said lever terminating at its upper end in a suitable handle, u..

By means of this lever L the sliding frame K can be moved horizontally in either direction, in such a manner as to cause the movable rubber J to approach or recede from the stationary rubber Within the vessel F, andthe said movable rubber, which has alsodiamond-shaped projections jis furnished with a handle, x, by means of which a vibratory motion may be imparted to it.

A suitable quantity of soap-suds having been introduced into the vessel F, the clothes or other articles to be washed are placed in the same, between the movable and stationary rubbers J 'and H, the lever L (and consequentlythe sliding frame and movable rubber) being then turned in the direction of the arrow, fig. 1, and held iirmly, so as to cause the clothes to be pressed against the stationary rubber H. Y

When the several parts have. been brought to this position, the rubber J is vibrated, by mean-s of its handle x, in such a manner as to cause the clothes to be rubbed between the two sets of projections f, which will rapidly remove the dirt from the same. v

The lever L and movable rubber may be drawn back at intervals in order to permit the mass of clothes to be turned, preparatory to a fresh squeezing and rnbhing ofthe saine. v

After the clothes have been thoroughly washed, the soap-suds may he drawn oi through the opening h, and the vessel iilled with clean water, the great pressure which can then be exerted upon the mass of clothes between the tworubbers, by a proper operation ofthe lever L, rendering the operation ot' rinsing both rapid and eiiective.

I am aware that Washing-,machines somewhat resembling the above have been constructed, in which the movable rubber is caused toslide in the vessel by means of a toothed segment or cog-wheel, gearing into teeth on the spindleoi' theA rubber, but this plan is objectionable, inasmuch as the desired pressure cannot be brought to bear upon the clothes without risk, of breaking the teeth ofthe cog-wheeler rack;

It will be evident, however, that by theuse of the lever L, acting through the medium' oi' theV sliding frame K,gany required pressure can be obtained.

Claim. i

The sliding frame K, consisting of the slotted bar p, cross-piece q, `and rod m,in combination with the operating-lever L, arranged at the side of the machine, and with the vibrating rubber J, substantially as described. Y

In testimony whereof, I have signed my nameto this specification, in the presence ot' 'two subscribing witnesses.

B. F. FELLMAN.

Witnesses:

Isaac S. GRAPE, W. C. Hann. 

